Annual thread regarding best and cheapest streaming options for NCAA (and possibly NFL)

#1
tomq_123

tomq_123

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#1
So, previous years I have used SlingTV (not my favorite), YoutubeTV (very good but expensive), SportsFire (free but seems to have been run out of business). I am looking at ESPN Unlimited which seems to support ESPN, SEC, ABC and all the other ESPN sports networks for $31.99/month. Will get all of Tennessee games, but probably won't get many NFL games.

What are some other potential (cheaper or even better free options) for both NCAA football and possibly NFL?
 
#3
#3
If youre JUST doing sports only, ESPN unlimited should get you through paired with an OTA antenna for CBS, NBC.

I just picked up NFL Sunday ticket onsale for $180.00 if youre nurse, military, first responder, or youtube premium subscriber and YOU DO NOT have to have youtube tv......unfortunately now theres games weekly on Amazon Prime, Netflix, Peacock, etc.......its getting out of control how many subscriptions you have to have to watch games. OTA antenna SHOULD get you local NFL games though.
 
#4
#4
For game days, I just listen to an old recording of John Ward when we were stomping on teams. It’s really liberating and a wonderful feeling knowing that your team is stomping the snot out of whoever is on the radio. Thank you, John Ward!

All the other TV options are a giant pain in the butt.
 
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#7
#7
They seemed to crackdown on this route a little more last year than in previous years, but I would just go to regular old YouTube and search on the game and there was usually a feed.
Worked well for the college games, but not for the NFL stuff.

I'm not a big fan of NFL, but will watch the Colts at times and they were usually on my local OTA channel or whatever local channel is affiliated with whatever streaming service, like CBS with Paramount+, that I happen to be paying for anyways.
 
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#8
#8
IndianaVol said:
They seemed to crackdown on this route a little more last year than in previous years, but I would just go to regular old YouTube and search on the game and there was usually a feed.
Worked well for the college games, but not for the NFL stuff.

I'm not a big fan of NFL, but will watch the Colts at times and they were usually on my local OTA channel or whatever local channel is affiliated with whatever streaming service, like CBS with Paramount+, that I happen to be paying for anyways.
Click to expand...
Cut the cord on Dtv and I was amazed at how many games I could watch on regular Youtube. I watched at least 3-4 TN games that way.
 
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#9
#9
I think a lot of people abuse the fubo free trial deal. Fubo may have cracked down and allowed only one IP per free trial
 
#10
#10
I watched all Tennessee games and a number of NFL games (mostly Falcons) for free last year using SportsFire, but Amazon has cracked on the use of that app. It wasn't perfect and lots of buffering. I know there are some Youtube streams (if you can find the real ones) but they have starting cracking down and some streams are cut off early in the game or at half time. I'm thinking ESPN Unlimited and maybe adding NFL Premium ( I see a price going up to $45.99).
 
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#12
#12
I dropped YouTube TV as it got too expensive. I have Sling TV now for $35 month, and added the sports package for $15/month for football season. Supplement channels with Pluto TV, which is totally free, Prime Video, and Tubi.

I get my local channels (about 30 in all) over my OTA.
 
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#15
#15
In this same vein, I'm a new subscriber to Sirius sattellite radio. Any suggestions for channels to listed to Vol Network and Vol Sports Talk?
 
#16
#16
I was given a link once by a friend found maybe in Vols reddit for someone that was streaming the game that day on Twitch when I didn't have anything to watch the game on that weekend. Just thought I would share for a potential extra resource.
 
#17
#17
I recommend giving the old cable tv a reconsideration. I've stuck with Xfinity throughout. I used to get mad at the cost, but the convenience is hard to beat. And now with the app, you don't have to rent all the extra boxes. I think that part alone cut like $50/month off my bill. That's what used to cost so much. Probably still a little higher than all of these streaming services, but you don't have to worry about which games you may not get.
 
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#19
#19
I asked just for college football and basketball games. Answer:

My ranking for you​

ServiceCollege coverageApprox. priceMy take
Hulu + Live TV⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$89.99/moBest overall for Tennessee/SEC
Fubo⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐~$85+Excellent sports lineup
YouTube TV⭐⭐⭐⭐½~$80–100Excellent interface/DVR/Multiview
ESPN Unlimited⭐⭐⭐⭐$31.99/moGreat value, but doesn't cover FOX/CBS/NBC games
Sling⭐⭐⭐½~$46–81Cheaper, but more holes in coverage
Hulu + Live TV gives you unlimited DVR as well, so you can record games you can't watch live.

One caveat: some college games are exclusive to Peacock, Paramount+ or other streaming platforms, so even Hulu Live can't guarantee every single NCAA game.

I will cancel ESPN Unlimited and get YouTube TV. ESPN is only good for baseball, based on this search.
 
#20
#20
Evol said:
I cancelled my YouTube tv and did that for the last month of the season last year. Sometimes they had specials for $1 for 24 hours.
Click to expand...
That's basically what I did.... I just don't watch enough TV other than Tennessee football to justify anything more than that.
 
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#22
#22
VOLtaism said:
I asked just for college football and basketball games. Answer:

My ranking for you​

ServiceCollege coverageApprox. priceMy take
Hulu + Live TV⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐$89.99/moBest overall for Tennessee/SEC
Fubo⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐~$85+Excellent sports lineup
YouTube TV⭐⭐⭐⭐½~$80–100Excellent interface/DVR/Multiview
ESPN Unlimited⭐⭐⭐⭐$31.99/moGreat value, but doesn't cover FOX/CBS/NBC games
Sling⭐⭐⭐½~$46–81Cheaper, but more holes in coverage
Hulu + Live TV gives you unlimited DVR as well, so you can record games you can't watch live.

One caveat: some college games are exclusive to Peacock, Paramount+ or other streaming platforms, so even Hulu Live can't guarantee every single NCAA game.

I will cancel ESPN Unlimited and get YouTube TV. ESPN is only good for baseball, based on this search.
Click to expand...
Does ESPN Unlimited let you pause and record? I'm considering that this year. Every UT football game should be available. Last year Sling wouldn't let me pause or record. It was basically like watching old school cable before DVRs
 
#25
#25
Just Fyi- and for those using Hulu with live TV or whatever it is called now.

I was paying my Amex bill recently and just happened to check my available perks lol.

Looks like they are offering $10 credit/month for the above referenced streaming platform (plus a % of the total monthly back as well). Would effectively knock it down to about $83/month after taxes

May wanna check it out. I just started my subscription again for football season a few days ago with that card as the payment method. Guess I will find out next month if I actually get the credits or not.
 
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